At RealClearDefense Francis Sempa writes about the “Lippman gap”, the gap between our military commitments and our capabilities:
Since 1999, the United States has extended security guarantees to 14 more European countries than it did during the Cold War, and it is about to add two more with Sweden and Finland. Our commitments have expanded at the same time that we declared a “peace dividend†only to further extend our commitments in the Middle East in a futile effort to bring democratization to the region and wage a global war on terror. Lippmann would be appalled at the widening gap between our commitments and power, especially when war clouds are gathering in the western Pacific at the same time that Howard and O’Hanlon want to expand our security commitments in Europe.
As I’ve observed before our military might is downstream from our economic power. Far too much of our present economy is devoted to retail, healthcare, and education.
This is one of my longstanding issues with defense spending. You endlessly hear that the US spends more than “X” number of countries combined, divorced from any discussion of capabilities and responsibilities as if top-line spending numbers exist separately in an apothecary drawer. And, of course, the focus on the top-line number also comes with little discussion, much less action, on the value proposition of getting more for the defense dollars we do spend.
Nephew does logistics for the Navy. Son is writing code for the DoD for its finances. For sure we dont work on getting value for what we spend. Talking with son it is at least encouraging that they are redoing work that was poorly done so that the DoD can at least keep better track fo where its money goes and if they are paying the right people. Years of outsourcing to the lowest bidder has not worked well.
Steve